As the sun slowly sinks in the Canadian geese honk in the distance.
The national parks are American public agreeing, knowingly or not, to put stewardship in the hands of scientists, naturalists, and elected officials. But the land I’m on now, where the geese finally quiet and the beaver swims up to stare at me fully in the face before satisfying his curiosity: this is private land.
They have taken ownership to new levels. They created a foundation and a research center. In this way they care for it after their death. The land and lake sill be preserved in perpetuity.
Cranberry Lake is tiny compared to the vastness our public spaces. But it is more land that is protected. Many might argue that it is more safe….